4/2004 Supermarket / Retail Safety Solutions A Pedestrian Safety System to Increase Facility Safety and Reduce Liability Version 1.9
Increase Profits by Reducing Liability Grocery stores around the country spend annually to defend slip and fall claims Source: NFSI $450 million Customers will slip and fall. These falls can cost retail stores millions of dollars per case if a jury determines that the customer s injury was caused by their employee s negligence. Retail stores must take reasonable measures to keep their customers safe from foreseeable dangers. What are reasonable measures? A store s first line of defense against expensive litigation is the installation, documentation and use of a comprehensive pedestrian safety system. Most slip and fall cases lack direct evidence to prove the store s liability. Injured customers must, therefore, frequently rely on circumstantial evidence to prove their case. A store s failure to have a written pedestrian safety system in place with basic records and inspection logs may support the injured person s claims in the eyes of a jury. Slip and fall accidents are the number one cause of both employee and guest injuries. Source: NFSI How can a retailers reduce exposure to this type of liability? Implement and use the Rubbermaid Commercial Pedestrian Safety System Maintain records of employee safety training on use of the system Immediately investigate any incidents and document findings: Ensure that customer obtains proper medical evaluation and care Take photographs as soon after the accident as possible Obtain witness statements If appropriate, seek legal counsel 2 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Statistical Trends in Supermarket/ Retail Litigation Case Study*: Average savings over 5 years with prevention of just one slip and fall accident using Rubbermaid safety products Initial cost of Rubbermaid safety products: $4,965 Annual replacement cost (20% per year): $3,972 over 4 years 5 Year total product cost: $8,937 for 5 years Median cost of 1 accident (see chart below): $50,000 Savings with prevention of 1 accident: $41,063 *Store Used for Study: 85,000 sq. ft. supermarket Source: For every dollar spent of floor care, supermarkets spend three for slip and fall claims. National Floor Safety Institute Supermarket Maintenance Costs (millions annually) 28% $450 9% $150 $1000 Labor Slip and Fall Accidents Floor Care Chemicals 63% Source: NFSI 25% 20% Award Distribution, Retail Store Claims Involving Premises Liability Verdict Average - $199K Majority of Retail Store Premises Liability Verdicts are Greater than $40,000 $100,000 - >$5,000,000 35% $2 - $9,999 16% 15% Verdict Mean - $50,000 10% 5% 0% $2 - $2499 $2,500 - $4,999 $5,000 - $7,499 $7,500 - $9,999 $10,000 - $24,999 $25,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $74,999 $75,000 - $99,999 $100,000 - $249,999 $250,000 - $499,999 $500,000 - $749,999 $750,000 - $999,999 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 - $5,000,000 - $1,999,999 $4,999,999 Up $10,000 - $99,999 49% Charts: Personal Injury Valuation Handbook, JVR 2000 3 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Front End: Entrance, Checkouts, Customer Service, Exits FACTS: Entrances, exits and check outs at grocery stores are likely locations for slip and fall accidents. Customers track in snow at entrances and spill liquids at check outs making these hard surface floors slick. Caution, wet floor inside may be slippery. Pop-Up Safety Cone Stable Safety Sign Spills at Cash Register Spills at register must be cleaned up by someone other than cashier Cashier can t stop line for clean up Over the Spill Station/ Folding Safety Cone: Cashiers tears off pad and drops over spill to mark hazard. If spill is larger, deploy Folding Safety Cone. Over-the-Spill Station Kit Site Safety Hanging Sign Water & dirt tracked in Going from interior to exterior walking surface Guests distracted Entrance Audio Guard with 36 Safety Cone: audible warning catches guests attention and alerts them to hazards. 12 second message can be recorded. Location # in Store Multiplier Total Needed Item # Description Placement Notes Cash Registers & Customer Service 1 9S07 Folding Safety Cone Mount by register, out of way 1 4251 Over the Spill Station Kit Mount by register, out of way Store Entrances & Exits 1 6289 Audio Guard Good for icy / wet days, place by entrance Customer Restrooms 2 9S09 Stable Safety Sign Store in restroom / janitor's closet 1 9S16 Site Safety Sign Blocks doors when cleaning, store conveniently 4 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Sales Floor FACTS: Easy access to safety signs is a key factor in preventing slip and fall accidents on the sales floor. Traditional plastic signs are awkward to store and can be unsightly. The best alternative is to have signs placed in easy-to-find locations around the store. Folding Safety Cone Over-the-Spill Station Kit Easy Access to Safety Signs Difficult to store traditional plastic signs Frequently left out pedestrians become conditioned to seeing signs and begin overlooking them. Folding Safety Cone: Cone is large and eyecatching when deployed, yet folds up and is stored in a compact 8 diameter shell. Location # in Store Multiplier Total Needed Item # Description Placement Notes By every fire extinguisher in store 1 Mount so it does not interfere with extinguisher Meat / Seafood 4 Mount behind counter, out of way, easy to reach Produce 6 9S07 Folding Safety Cone Easy to reach locations by areas frequently wet Pharmacy 1 Mount behind counter, out of way, easy to reach Deli / Bakery 2 Mount behind counter, out of way, easy to reach 1 4251 Over the Spill Station Kit Mount behind counter, out of way, easy to reach 5 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Receiving / Service Areas FACTS: Don t forget safety in the service areas of a supermarket. Employees may let their guard down when they go to the back of the store for a break. There are hazards such as pallet jacks and fork lifts as well as spills to be aware of in this environment. Folding Safety Cone Over-the-Spill Station Kit Site Safety Hanging Sign Stable Safety Sign Employees Hit by Lift Equipment Forklift / pallet jack operators focused on load, not on pedestrians Pedestrians coming off the sales floor may be tired and not focused on safety Mobile Barrier Mobile Barrier: Barricade can be set up to channel pedestrian traffic away from loading docks and work areas. Location # in Store Multiplier Total Needed Item # Description Placement Notes Employee Break Rooms Employee Restrooms 1 2 9S07 9S09 Folding Safety Cone Stable Safety Sign Mount where easy to locate Mount where easy to locate 1 1 4251 9S16 Over the Spill Station Kit Site Safety Sign Mount where easy to locate Mount where easy to locate Receiving Docks 1 9S11 Mobile Barrier Store by docks 6 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Barricades for Maintenance Projects FACTS: Anytime there is a maintenance project in the supermarket, safety signs alone just aren t enough. Whether its replacing overhead fluorescent bulbs, repairing elevators, pressure washing the building and sidewalk, building end caps, barricades should be used. Barricades don t just warn, they prevent access to the area. Mobile Barrier Indoor Maintenance Ceiling tiles and light bulbs need replacing requiring use of ladder Mobile Fence: Maintenance crew can barricade area. Mobile Fence Elevator Repair Elevator needs repair Pedestrians try to use elevator Mobile Barrier: Repair person can block off elevator to prevent use. Location Store Ares Sq. Ft Divide By Total Needed Item # Description Notes Indoor Maintenance / Resets 40,000 9S11 Mobile Barrier 13' long Large indoor / outdoor maintenance 40,000 9S13 Mobile Fence 24' long 7 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800
Safety Equipment Audit Average savings with prevention of 1 accident: $41,063 Products Audio Guard with 36 Safety Cone Item # 6289 Mobile Barrier Item # 9S11 Number From previous pages Have Products already own Total Products recommended Probing Questions to Ask: 1. Do you have a consistent pedestrian safety training program with standardized products in place? Yes No 2. How many slip and fall incidents did you record last year? Stable Safety Sign Item # 9S09 Site Safety Hanging Sign Item # 9S16 Over-the-Spill Station Kit Item # 4251 Folding Safety Cone Item # 9S07 Mobile Fence Item # 9S13 3. Are you separately tracking all of the costs associated with safety? Yes No 4. What are the most hazardous areas of the facilities you clean? 5. How long are spills on the floor before being cleaned? 6. Do you have a program to walk the facility to monitor spills/ hazards/ shrink? Yes No 7. Who is responsible for cleaning up spills on the sales floor? 8. Are there unique safety concerns in your facility? 8 Website: www.rubbermaidcommercial.com E-mail: custserv@rubbermaidcommercial.com Customer service: 1 (800) 347-9800